A Canadian diploma and permission to work after graduation are separate matters. Before building a plan around a post-graduation work permit (PGWP), check the exact program and your own study history. A school’s designated learning institution (DLI) status alone does not establish PGWP eligibility.

Start with these five checks

  • The program: confirm that both the institution and the particular program qualify.
  • Your study record: review full-time enrolment, any breaks, transfers and distance learning. IRCC allows certain exceptions, including part-time study in the final semester.
  • Your qualification: degree and non-degree graduates can face different language and field-of-study rules.
  • Your dates: collect the study-permit application date, completion confirmation and permit expiry.
  • Your history: tell the consultant if you have already received a PGWP.

Under the current IRCC eligibility rules, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral graduates generally need CLB/NCLC 7 in all four language skills and have no field-of-study requirement. Other university graduates generally need level 7; college, polytechnic and other non-university graduates generally need level 5. Field requirements for non-degree programs depend on the study-permit application date. There are exceptions and transitional rules.

Check the program code, not just its name

Where a field requirement applies, use the six-digit Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code. Ask the institution for the exact code and compare it with IRCC’s field-of-study instructions for your dates. Keep the answer with your admission documents. Before enrolling, also review the study-permit checklist.

Graduating soon? Build a document timeline

The general PGWP application window is 180 days after confirmation that you completed the program. That does not mean your study permit or work authorization remains valid for 180 days. Put each relevant deadline on a separate line.

Prepare your passport, study permits, completion letter, transcript and required language evidence. Review IRCC’s document instructions for your situation. If status has expired, check the restoration rules promptly instead of assuming a PGWP application fixes it.

Can you work while waiting?

Not everyone can. IRCC’s after-you-apply rules require, among other conditions, a valid study permit when applying, completion of the program and eligibility for off-campus work without exceeding the permitted hours. If those conditions are not met, wait for authorization before working.

Will the permit last three years?

Not automatically. Duration depends on program type, length and passport validity. Eligible master’s programs of at least eight months can qualify for a three-year permit even when shorter than two years; this rule does not extend to every diploma or certificate. See IRCC’s permit-duration guidance.

Make the consultation useful

Bring the program name and CIP code, your enrolment history and a one-page timeline. A review can identify the questions to resolve before you file. If PGWP is not available, another work-permit route would need its own eligibility assessment.

The initial consultation is $180 plus applicable provincial taxes. Consultations are available in English and Russian. This is general information; the applicable rules depend on your circumstances.